IKV PRESS RELEASE 

10 JUNE 2015

Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan: It is unacceptable that an issue that is not related to the negotiations process is included in the EP report!

THE 2014 EP TURKEY REPORT HAS BEEN ADOPTED

The vote of the EP 2014 Turkey Report which should have taken place in May had been postponed because of heated debates and for some amendment propositions coming mostly from anti-Turkish far-right parliamentarians. The European Parliament’s (EP) 2014 Turkey Report has been finally adopted on the 10 June 2015.

IKV Chairman of Board of Directors Ömer Cihad Vardan made a statement on this issue:

“The EP report which has been adopted today includes new articles and new issues which different from the previous ones. However, the articles that have been included in the report have not made it more balanced, constructive and fair from Turkey’s perspective.

It is particularly important that the report refers to the 7 June General Election in Turkey and described it as an indicator of the solidarity of the Turkish democracy and a the reflection of the diversity of Turkish society. As we, IKV has explained, the report calls upon all political parties to form a stable and inclusive government which would renew dialogue with the EU.

Furthermore, the fact that the report calls upon the notification of the opening criteria in for Chapters 23 and 24 and the acceleration of the negotiations on five chapters including energy is welcoming. However, we are not unfortunately observing a clear and decisive approach regarding the opening of new chapters.

In addition, the fact that in the report the energy cooperation between Turkey and Russia is described as a source of concern is inappropriate.

On the other side, in the context where parties have agreed to the revision of the Customs Union, the fact that the relevant amendments only stress the problems faced by EU companies settled in Turkey and that Turkey’s problems have been eclipsed is of great injustice towards Turkey which is in a Customs Union with the EU for nearly 20 years.

Fınally; the most striking political element in the report is the fact that it refers to the EP decision in April regarding 1915 events. It is unacceptable that such an issue which not related in the negotiations process has been included in the EP report regardless of all of Turkey’s warnings and constructive attitude regarding the 1915 events”.